I've been looking into drawer slides and noticed they are typically measured by their collapsed length. However, I need to know how to measure them for their full extension. Is there a standard industry practice for this? Also, would it be accurate to assume that the full extension is approximately 0.75 times longer than the collapsed length?
2 Answers
Yes! Drawer slides come in different extension types – like 3/4 extension, full extension, and over-travel. If you have a full extension slide, you can expect it to open all the way out, but it doesn't necessarily mean it will be exactly double the collapsed length. It typically provides full access to the drawer, but the specific dimensions can vary.
The general measurement to consider is the nominal dimension of your drawer box. Brands like Blum give suggested drawer lengths along with 'extension loss.' For example, if you have a 21" drawer and a 3" extension loss, the drawer front moves forward about 18" when fully extended. The extension type really matters too; full extension slides will typically align the rear of the drawer with the front when fully pulled out.
Thank you so much! That'll work for me. I have a few inches of wiggle room, I just needed a degree of certainty before purchasing anything.
Oh nice! Thank you so much!! So if this drawer slide is called a "full extension" slide, does that mean I can safely assume it'll be exactly double the collapsed length?